Category: Press Release

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I am thrilled to have a Secretary of Agriculture that will prioritize Montana’s number one economic driver,” Daines stated. “Secretary Perdue has extensive experience advocating for agriculture and will work to expand opportunities for Montana agriculture. I look forward to hosting Secretary Perdue in Montana.” On March 23, 2017, Daines questioned Governor Sonny Perdue on trade and forest management reform during his nomination hearing.

Bill Would Keep Government Running, End Shutdowns that Disrupt Critical Government Services & Cost Taxpayers Billions  U.S. SENATE — As Congress races to prevent another government shutdown this week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation that would permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down, ensuring that essential government services aren’t disrupted and protecting taxpayers who must bear the resulting cost. The End Government Shutdowns Act would create an automatic continuing resolution (CR) for any regular appropriations bill or existing CR, keeping the federal government open and reducing the chance of last-minute, budget-busting bills being forced through Congress.  “Washington’s govern-by-crisis

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Acting United States Trade Representative Stephen Vaughn to include the trade dispute related to Chinese solar panels and US polysilicon manufacturers in any “100 day plan” negotiations with China. REC Silicon operates a facility in Butte that manufactures polysilicon for electronics and other products, and is one of Butte-Silver Bow’s largest employers. The company has been caught up in a long-standing trade dispute between the US and China where the US imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels in 2012 and China retaliated by restricting market access

Senators: Inspectors General needed to “conduct the oversight and investigations necessary to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected” U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to urge President Donald J. Trump to quickly nominate qualified candidates for Inspectors General (IGs), who serve as watchdogs over federal agencies.   Many government agencies have an independent Office of the Inspector General that is responsible for auditing federal programs in order to improve government operations and to target waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as investigating whistleblower claims and allegations of wrongdoing.  “While many acting IGs have

Discussed Opening Chinese Markets to U.S. Beef Imports, National Security U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he recently returned from an official overseas congressional delegation trip to China and Japan including visits to Beijing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Hong Kong and Tokyo.   Daines met with China Premier Li Keqiang, as well as National People’s Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang, Vice Chairman Zhang Ping, National People’s Congress Lobsang Gyaltsen, Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qi Zhala, Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary for Japan and Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry for Japan. Daines

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fulfill Glacier Park International Airport’s request for a third X-ray machine. In a letter to TSA Acting Administrator Dr. Huban Gowadia, Daines noted the increased tourism in the Kalispell area and the need to ensure timely screening for passengers.  “GPI provides reliable air service for nearly 250,000 passengers per year, enabling economic growth and allowing thousands of tourists to visit Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley every year,” Daines wrote. “As you make decisions about resource allocations in the coming months, I urge you to accommodate GPI’s request.” Daines’

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced legislation to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  DHS spends over $7 billion on acquisition programs annually. This legislation would codify acquisition best practices, increase transparency and accountability, increase communication and understanding of needs to industry providing these technologies, and require notification to the Inspector General and Congress when certain cost, schedule, and performance objectives are not met.  A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reviewed 26 acquisition programs at DHS in fiscal year 2016 (FY16) worth $7 billion.

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has heeded Daines’ request and will accept Montana licenses, regardless of REAL ID status, for medical certification purpose. In a letter from FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to Daines, Huerta wrote that, “The FAA believes that the requirement to hold a driver’s license to exercise  the relief of BasicMed does not require a REAL ID compliant license.” Click HERE to read FAA’s letter to Daines. “It’s good progress to see the FAA recognize Montana licenses regardless of a federal law that Montanans have said they don’t want,” Daines stated. “I will continue working to ensure

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hold one of its tribal listening sessions in Montana as part of the process of updating its tribal consultation policy. In a letter to FEMA head Robert Fenton, Daines noted that Montana tribal leaders and homeland security directors have expressed a strong desire to provide their input on the FEMA consultation policy and requested that the agency hold a listening session in Montana to ensure their voices are heard. “As you prepare that schedule ahead of the finalization of the renewed policy by August 2017, I

U.S. SENATE — During National Asbestos Awareness Week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized the people of Libby, Montana, for their resiliency and strength in confronting economic, environmental, and public health challenges. Daines is pictured with Dr. Brad Black, Ms. Tanis Hernandez, and Ms. Tracy McNew of CARD. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.  Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan